Op-Ed: Of Cabinet Minister Ben Phiri and Blantyre street beer party

August 22, 2019 Chem'bwana Nkolokosa –Nyasa Times 31 Comments

Last weekend, Minister of Local Government and Rural Development in President Peter Mutharika’s government,  Ben Malunga Phiri, became probably the first Cabinet Minister in the history of this country to throw a street beer party on a Sunday afternoon.

Ben Malunga Phiri, became probably the first Cabinet Minister in the history of this country to throw a street beer party

He removed his ministerial robes to fete his friends and compatriots at ‘Zibolibili’ off Victoria Avenue in downtown Blantyre on high volumes of alcohol. In pictures that went viral on social media, the Minister  is seen sitting on a chair surrounded by bingeing friends whilst talking and laughing unreservedly around many alcohol bottles. He seemed to be clearly comfortable and relentless with the group which was unmistakably enjoying itself as well.

Nyasa Times should state clearly at this onset that it is not wrong to chat with friends or to connect with long lost compatriots over a bottle of beer. Actually it is even encouraged to develop networks and bond with friends and acquaintances whilst enjoying a good brew or Shisha, because that is what creates societies and brings about peace and understanding. Just that the Ben Phiri scenario may not be your typical case of bonding over a glass of brew; it is something else appalling which is why we are talking.

To begin with, Honourable Malunga Phiri is a Parliamentarian representing the noble people of Thyolo Central Constituency. On top of that, he is also a Cabinet Minister in the new government of President Arthur Peter Mutharika; as such he is no ordinary individual whose actions and conduct cannot just be passed up. It is only natural that he should be under constant public scrutiny as duty bearer entrusted to carry out public duty under the Constitution of this Republic.

It also naturally expected that a Cabinet Minister should be a person of high decorum and integrity; one who is expected not to behave waywardly, and one expected to set a good example of positive public life particularly to the youths of this country.  It is such appalling and sad that  Ben Phiri has chosen to be a very bad example to the public because of his display of unbecoming public behavior, which is exactly what a Cabinet Minister ought not to do.

A ministerial position is very high position in this country because it means one is an advisor to the President and a key player in the policy-making framework for the government and a country. It means  Ben Phiri is a senior and entrusted individual who plays a key role at the apex level of decision making in the President Peter Mutharika government.  Now what message is he sending when he buys alcohol and throws street parties at ‘Ziboliboli’ with curio sellers and known hoodlums in full glare of the public and on Sunday afternoon?

We know he may have done that to endear himself with the people, who are mostly ‘men of town’; we also know that Ben Phiri has had his fair share of life in the streets and at ‘Ziboliboli’. He may have been driven by the desire to reconnect with his long time friends and to demonstrate to them that he has progressed in life and that he is Cabinet Minister now.  In as much as we understand that there is always a powerful instinct in people to ‘show off’ to friends that they have made it in life, what Ben Phiri did was ill-conceived for a Cabinet Minister.

It is an open secret that the place called ‘Ziboliboli’ in Blantyre is a bastion of illegal trade. It is a place where most of the illegal trade in foreign exchange takes place; it is also the central dwelling place of ruthless loan sharks and experts of underhand dealings; obviously the least place to expect a whole Cabinet Minister to sit and drink beer with alleged friends on a Sunday afternoon. On top of that,  Ben Phiri also claims to be a Christian from Cavalry Family Church, which abhors, not just drinking alcohol, but also drinking in public places.

What Minister Ben Phiri is doing is to dilute the position of Cabinet Minister and bringing the government of President Mutharika into disrepute.

This country is going through a difficult time economically; a majority of Malawians are living on less than a dollar a day, which is below the internationally recognized poverty threshold under the United Nations (UN), and for the whole Cabinet Minister to be found bingeing publicly on useless alcohol with questionable characters in town is a display of insensitivity of the highest order to the suffering of the people. Just what message is  Ben Phiri trying to send to the world? That he does not care even if other people are suffering as long as he is Cabinet Minister?

If Ben Phiri had wanted to fete his friends, he should have easily done that in private, and not publicly like he did. It only means there is something horribly wrong with his moral compass which is dangerous for a Cabinet Minister.  We have had people with funny characters who have been Cabinet Ministers in Malawi before.  Dumbo Lemani is a perfect example.  He served in the UDF government of Bakili Muluzi, and his office was in Umoyo House closer to where Ben Phiri threw his street party.

Dumbo Lemani would often descend from his office to chat with people and friends in the streets down. He would sit on benches and giggle comfortably with the people but there was no record of him throwing public street parties where people would drink alcohol relentlessly.

If the Cabinet Minister  was following in the footsteps of President Mutharika, who not long ago feted some DPP youths at Sanjika Palace, then he did it badly. President Mutharika was roundly criticized for throwing that party, and will most likely not do it again, and he did it at Sanjika Palace not in the streets.

For Ben Phiri to emulate that example and in that manner is deliberately fanning the fires of public anger that Mutharika hoped time would douse. It is not long ago when the same Ben Phiri was publicly reprimanded by the First Lady when he courted controversy after he insulted the very womanhood of former First Lady, Dr. Patricia Shanil Muluzi. Now he thinks throwing alcohol street parties with gangsters is a way of cultivating his own brand of populism.

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31 replies on “Op-Ed: Of Cabinet Minister Ben Phiri and Blantyre street beer party”

  1. Uwu ndiye uchitsiluwo. Vuto ndi osankha ma Minister yo. Cant these people think? The truth is, the whole minister of a country shouldnt be doing this. Especially when people are suffering. What picture does he want to give to the citizens. Umbuzi.

  3. Recruiting petrol bombers….thats what he is doing….has many thug friends mu ndirandemu…..mbuzi ikakondwa amalonda ali pafupi….la 40 likwana..

  6. I didnt expect Nyasatimes to rebuke Ben Phiri after chi banzi anakutafunitsani chija . Ndinakonzeka kukulalatirani. credit where due mwanena za nzeru

  7. Very childish behaviour for the one you call him Minister of the government kuyaruka mwayamba kuoneseratu u Mafia wanu onse kukauza ma gangster zochita kumeneko kkkkkk

  8. He has the right to a personal life. Why should he not be able to relax and enjoy the company of friends? If he is not doing anything illegal what is the problem? If he does one thing yet preaches another, that is the problem. Hypocrisy. There are far too many hypocrites in this world. If only we could be less judgemental of others and true to ourselves.

  10. He has a life to live just as you have..Ministers are not Gods..They are individuals just as we are…He went there in his personal capacity.

  11. Malawi is not in good hands. Gone are the days when Cabinet Ministers were Honourable. Now they’re just Cabinet Ministers. Sad indeed. Easy money, easy come easy go.

  12. Hon Ben Phiri, being a minister doesn’t mean you should abuse your powers. You are entitled to one car as well as your PA. But grabing another car for night duties or to be used by cadets at night and moreover being a government 1 it’s not right. Respect yourself DR . Mupusa nazo Kalemba akupweteketsani siziyenela kutelo

  14. Government vehicles to be used by cadets?? Why not using your personal cars. On a drinking spree I don’t see anything wrong it’s good to interact with people but not abusing your minesterial powers. Why 1 minister having 3 cars time 23 ministers. What about servicing fuel and alike? Do you mean dpp has no cars at it’s headquarters??? Kalemba take care the issue is in court. Ngati kuli kuchekenela kuopa posting you will still pay for it. BS 5797 sunagulitsana kale ndi Dakamau mwachinyengo. Azabwezatu ameneyo we have the records

  15. So you want to tell me that the said Ford Ranger is awaiting for what? Kufuna kuchekenela viswesi koma mukuotchesana manjatu. Akuti anachita kuuzidwa kuti izikakhala kunyumba kwawo?? Izigwila zausiku??? Shame

  17. Hon Ben Malunga Phiri, don’t miss use your ministerial powers please. A minister is entitled to one vehicle and the other one for your PA. Not 3 cars I understand you want to use BU6946 for other unforeseen Khadet duties?? That’s abuse of office Charles akupusitsani bwana Ben. Munali munthu wabwino koma uyuyu akupalamulitsani.

  18. Malawians! What do you expect from a DPP Cadet Minister from the DPP Tippex Government? Showing off and savagery is their style of behaviour. Ndalama zakuba zomwezi. Musiyeni Dwarf anyaudire misonkho yathu.

  19. Iwe Nkolokosa u have personsl issue ndi Ben yo.Theres life after being minister. If ur minister u also have private life there is no Constitution as to how a minister shud live his private life.As I said earlier it is journalist like u who exegerate things I don’t know to instil fear or what!? a cabinet post is nothing! The president chose those people at his pleasure.Theres no difinition. He can get fired without apeal. He can’t leave as in jail.Stop this nonses. Time come and goes .It’s his time now. How many ministers has Malawi ever had? All those best examples u know and adore did they bring Malawi into G7? G14? G20? Malawi kwacha equal to pound? Stop this rubbish.Being a minister is not a position given from heaven or that uR an angel and u represent angels ok? Kuli anthu amawukana udindo umenewo.Its nothing! Let him live and enjoy while it last. Remember we live once!

  21. Kodi chimene wanyamula ben ndi mowa? I remember when chilima was.vp he used to throw parties at msipe and we used to drink there mpaka kudabadika mmbali mwa mseu mmene muja iyeso mkumamwa nawo. Ngati ben mmadana naye just say it. Have followed mateo salvini, the deputy prime minister snd interior minister of italy? You can see him in public smoking and taking selfies Bout himself. These days its populist governments that are gaining ground osati za zii. Do not waste our time with this shit. Its better to associate with a ziboliboli than trapece associating with lgbt.

  22. I do not see any problem with the minister throwing a party with his old fellows in the street. This is where we get it wrong, when you succeed in life then you do not associate yourself with old friends because you are on top and you treat them like they are useless buddies or distance yourself from them.
    Sometimes be with them where they enjoy to be, make them feel comfortable with places they always hang around.
    This is life, today you are a minister tomorrow you are back to square one in the same street you deserted while on top.
    Life is so simple don’t put yourself on top always, chill!

  23. Wawo chem’bwana asowile yalemba …. what’s wrong with Ben hunging out with countrymen at ziboliboli….and from the picture in the article, Ben is carrying a bottle of water in his hand…are you trying to criminalize booze to an adult of over 18 years… don’t be too conservative and rubble rousing….

  25. Anthu sanje Sunday aliyese akhoza I kupita kwa azake kukamwa mowa ntchito ndi Monday to Friday .and like that awonetse Ben kut ndiwe nduna ya chinyamata

  27. You are expecting too much from this classless orchestra . Mutharika, his ministers and most DPP gurus are simply a group of people with no class and standards

  30. This where Malawi my beloved country has reached under the leadership of none other than them. But God is still on the throne and will surely intervene at His own time. Amen

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